Steel-wool holder



June 12, 1928. 1,673,472

w. SANDS STEEL 1 WOOL HOLDER Filed Oct. 16, 1926 Patented June 12, 1928.

' waitrnnsannsor MINNE POLIS, MINNESOTA.

' STEEL-WOOL HoLnEn.

Application, fiiea October 16,1 1926. Serial No. 141,961.

My present invention has for its object to provide an extremely simpleand highly-efficient holder intended for general use but especiallyadapted for holding steel wool and for operating thesame for abrasive,

scouring, polishing andcleaning purposes.

Of the many uses for steel wool it is especially well adapted for.cleaning kitchen aluminum ware but it is objectionable for the reasonthat it is so hard on the hands andthe sharp, stifi' ends thereof andloose particles cut into the fingers of the operator. This objection tothe use of steel wool-is particularly true of the coarser grades butthey are desirable for the reason that they cutfaster and are muchcheaper than the finer grades.

By theuse of the'improved holder a ball or wad of steel wool may besecurely held in such a position as to cover the respective portion ofthe holder so that the same may be used to press the steel wool to itswork and at the same time prevent said holder from coming in contactwith the articles to be cleaned or pol-ishedand hence marl-ing orscratching the same. a

The shape of the holder is such as to permit the steel wool to be easilyrubbed on irregular surfaces in corners, as well as flat orconcavo-convex surfaces. 1

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the noveldevices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved holder;

Fig 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective viewshowing the jaws separated; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on theline l4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the jaws closed and holding a wadof steel wool. The improved holder includes upperand lower jaws 6 and 7,each of which is formed from a single flat spring steel member inopposing relation. Integrally formed in the inner ends of the jaws 6 and7 are U-shaped extensions 8 and 9, respectively, nested, the former inthe latter, and affording a tang to which a handle 10 is applied.

The handle 10 has a central longitudinally extended seat into which'thenested jaw -extensions 8 and 9 are tightly :nested, and which seatincross section follows the con} tour of said nested extensions andthereby positively prevents the same from turning in the handle ltwillbe noted thatthe hai1- dle 10 is fiat on its top and bottom so thatthe same may be firmly held by the operator and will not turnin hishand. Nested concavo-convex lugs 9 are pressed from the transverseportions of the jaw extensions 8 and 9 andthereby securelyhold saidextension's against endwise movement, the one in respect to the other,and with the aws 6 and 7 positively secured in deliniterelation inrespect to each other. i I 1 g The free end portion of the upper jaw 6iscurved laterally toward the lower jaw 7 and extended slightly forwardthereof. Both jaws 6 and 7am spring separated and the lower jaw 7 isextendedlaterally away from the upper aw 6 and 1 its free :end portionisextended laterally iiiward toward said upper jaw to afford a widetooth 11. This tooth 11, when the jaws 6 and 7 are open, isspaced aconsiderable distancefrom the upper jaw 6, as shown in Fig. 2. Duringthe closing movement of the jaws 6 and 7 the tooth 11 moves into theupper jaw 6 and is laterally spaced therefrom, as shown inFig. 5.

l A sliding collar 12 is mounted on the jaws and 9 tightly together.During the project ing movement of the collar 12 on the jaws 6 and 7,said jaws are closed and their body portions, between said collar 12 andthehandle 10, are held tightly pressed together.

Pressed from the upper jaw 6 is an upstanding lug 13, and a.co-operating wedgelike surface 14 is pressed from the top of the collar12 and arranged to engage thelug 13 and frictionally hold the collar 12'when positioned to'close the jaws 6 and 7. This wedge-like surface 1 1,acting on the lug 13, also tightly presses the bodies of the jaws 6 and7 together.

In Fig. 5 is shown a wad or ball of steel wool 15 held by the holder. Inapplying the steel wool 15 to the holder a portion thereof is insertedbetween the open jaws: 6 and 7 wool under the end portions of said jaws,

so that the same may be held toits work by a downward pressure whlebeing rublged- V prising a pair of normally open spring jaws,

over'a surface to be cleaned or polished and when in this. position.covers; the ;respective portiontof; the holder- .to prevent, the .samefrom ,coming in contact with the articlelbtiing cleaned. e tel a 'm A va ..The collar 12,:when, in any position .on the jaws ,6,.andi7,,prevents the bodiesmof said jaws between, the; collar 12Hand handle l0,orntheir extensions: from, separating under pressureiapplied tothehjaws,andv thereby prevent the same; from splittin the'handle 1O. I aBymclamping, the bodieso the jaws 6 and:7. lightlyitoge ther when closedtl18;l10ld: er is materially reinforcedand made rigid sorthat the samewill not bend .under pressure 'ap lied to the holder. Furthermore, whentie collar 12" is iprojectedhancl the bodies qof lthetjaws 6 auditgtightlypressed together; the pro'eoting end portions, of said jaws arerelatively short and hence'will not bendand release, the, steel wool 15when operatingthesame. i

t t v t Y he -nesting of tliejawiextensions; 8 and 9 and thecollar 12securelyrholdsthe jaws 6 and? against ed%pwise movement, the one uponthe other. -T enested lugs19, as previonslylstated, hold the jaws 6 and7 against endwise movement in respect to each other sq,thatftheitootlrllisfalways in a positive relation to the jaw 6 and thereby securelyclamps the steelwool 15 in the jaws so that j the same will-hot bedetached therefrom dur- 40 ing its operation.

What'I claim is: 1. A holder; otthe kind descrihed comahandle,apipliedto the jawsand holding the s'amegin assembled relatlon, the freeend'portionsf of the .jaws heing inturned andrar ranged to, move pasteach other I during the 9.10511 .me e t fih e jeW hdiin collar onthejjans and movahle ,into, a post i nl 9; @1 5 the J w a ug n 3 ez iawa 5 3 79 1 3? h vi an. ncl d fi tazi aas dl te engage s ug, dw' ii ovemntqil he 90 M t d se t ej nd ma aha emei g th n a d e ar ble as pres u ea d i .fr ct ne y ho d sa telle W ere -M I l 2. Aholcler of the kinddescribedcoinprisr ing a pair 'of m embers having jaws atone end 3,1 andhaving entensions at: the otherend that are channehshaped in crosssection wind seated the; one within the; 0tl1er,and a h an dle appliedto said extensions and, holding the san'ie ass emhlejd. n y T f t t f v-3. The structuredefined in claim ,2 in 5 which, the; extensions haveinterlocking ele- ,ments that hold said extensions against endwisemovement n respect (to; each other, i i

.In testimony vhereoflafiix my signature,

WALTER; SANDS;

